Indonesia beat Chinese Hong Kong 4-1 on Wednesday to qualify for
the semifinals of the Sudirman Cup mixed team badminton
championships.
The 1989 inaugural winners, who fell victim 3-2 to South Korea
the opening day but came back on track after Tuesday's 4-1 victory
over Denmark, accumulated 10 winning games in the three ties to top
Division one Group B.
Three time winners South Korea joined Indonesia into the last
four although they lost to European tycoon Denmark 3-2 in the other
D1 Group B match on Wednesday. They won nine games in all from the
three round-robin clashes, one game ahead of Denmark.?
South Korea will have to face titleholders China, who leads Group
A, in a semifinal on Saturday.
Indonesia rested Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat from the men's
singles and Sony Dwi Kuncoro, replacing Hidayat, beat Ng Wei of
Chinese Hong Kong 21-16, 15-21, 21-17.
The mixed duo Limpele Flandy and Vita Marissa gave Indonesia a
winning start as they outperformed Yohan Hadikusumo Wiratama and
Hoi Wah Chau 21-11, 21-18. Sony then made it 2-0 for Indonesia.
Pui Yin Yip grabbed Chinese Hong Kong's only point in women's
singles, beating Adriyanti Firdasari 21-10, 22-20. But Candra
Wijaya and Yulianto Alvent put the tie beyond doubt with a 18-21
21-14 21-10 victory in the men's doubles over Albertus Susanto
Njoto and Yohan Hadikusumo Wiratama.
Women's pair Greysia Polii and Lilyana Natsir conquered Wai Chee
Koon and Hoi Wah Chau 21-7 19-21 21-8 to conclude the 4-1 win.
Indonesia doubles player Candra Wijaya, who came out of
retirement, was delighted by the victory.
"Our target is to be champions," Wijaya said, "We have not come
here just to participate."
"This tournament is very important to Indonesia. Our players
will be doing our best to win this title. It will not be easy but
we have a chance," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2007)